Indians news, features and notes

GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Not surprisingly, the pitchers had the better of it in the first of the Indians' two intrasquad games this afternoon on Field No. 1 of the Goodyear spring training facility.

Josh Tomlin was the first of eight ptichers to throw one inning each, and Tomlin retired the side in order on nine pitches, striking out one. The last pitcher to take the mound, non-roster invitee Tyler Sturdevant, was the only other pitcher to throw a totally clean inning, striking out one.

GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Albert Belle, a resident of nearby Paradise Valley, visited the Indians' training camp today for the first time since the team relocated to the Phoenix area four years ago.

At the behest of former teammates Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga, both of whom are here to help tutor players during training camp, plus Tribe senior vice president of public affairs, Bob DiBiasio, Belle made his first contact with his former team since he left via free agency following the 1996 season.

GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Chris Perez was doing something he does naturally: throwing a bullpen, when he suddenly felt a twinge in his left side.

He tried to keep throwing but couldn't. Tests showed that he had strained his left oblique and probably will be sidelined from four to six weeks, putting in jeopardy his readiness for thre April 5 opener against Toronto.

GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Grady Sizemore is unlikely to start the season on time after straining his back as he fielded ground balls in the outfield.

""While rehabbing his right knee approximately two weeks ago, Grady sustained a lower back strain and is presently rehabbing that condition,'' head trainer Lonnie Soloff said this afternoon. ""At the present time he has ceased baseball activities. A return to baseball activities is strictly dependent on his response to treatment.''

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Veteran middle infielder Cristian Guzman is in camp and says he is ready to sign a minor-league contract on Wednesday.

Guzman, 33, played six years for the Twins and five for the Nationals before spending 2010 with the Rangers. However, he suffered an injury to his right shoulder and underwent rotator cuff surgery, missing all of the 2011 season.

Trevor Crowe no longer is on the Indians' 40-man roster, but he has been invited to major-league camp once spring training begins on Monday. Crowe missed almost the entire 2011 season with a shoulder injury.

Late in spring training, Crowe underwent surgery to repair his right shoiulder. He did not return to the Tribe until late September.